Protective device



Nov. 24, 1953 JR 2,659,888

PROTECTIVE DEVICE Original Filed July 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet llNVENTy/p" 32 M 0% A TTURNEYS.

N 1953 R. MALCOM, JR 2,659,888

7 PROTECTIVE DEVICE Original Filed July 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,Zig'7 ,fga

ATTORNEYS.

1953 R. MALCOM, JR

PROTECTIVE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 28, 1950 Inueniorf- Robert ma lcpm Jr:

Patented Nov. 24, 1953 PROTECTIVE DEVICE Robert Malcom, Jr., Chicago,111., assignor to Chicago Eye Shield Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Original application July 28, 1950, Serial No.

176,400, now Patent N0..2,606,321, dated August 12, 1952. Divided andthis application February 6, 1952, Serial No. 270,202

7 Claims. (Cl. 28

This invention relates to devices for protecting ing the head and faceportion from injury by flying debris or particles such as are effectedduring the processes of welding, spray-painting, grinding, toolsharpening, metal cutting, sand blasting, and the like, and it relatesmore particularly to face masks or face shields.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.176,400, filed on August 28, 1950, now Patent No. 2,606,321, andentitled Protective Device, which application is a continuation-in-partof application Serial No. 111,119, filed on August 19, 1949, nowabandoned.

In present commercial practice the mask or face-shield portion of thedevice is usually provided in the form of a plastic sheet or the likewhich is secured at its rigid upper-end portion to a more rigid metal orfiber band so that the depending mask portion can project a a barrier infront of the wearers face when in position of use. The supporting bandis in turn pivotedat its ends to a head gear adapted to seat on the headof the wearer. The chief objection to constructions of this type ofprotection device resides in the fixed relation which usually existsbetween the mask portion and the head band. When so constructed. it isdifficult if not impossible for the user to replace the mack or faceshield with a new one when the old become unfit for the purpose forwhich it was intended. The shield portions cannot be interchanged easilyso that the device is substantially inflexible and can be made suitablefor only one general type of use. This requires a number of differentstructures to be stocked in order to have proper protection availablefor various operations that are carried out in production.

More important, the expansion characteristics of the materials of whichthe shield and the carrying band are formed are usually sufiicientlydifferent to set up strains under operating conditions which causebuckling and distortion of the more flexible face shield to the end thatit often becomes unfit for the purpose for which it was intended.

When formed of plastic materials, 7 such as cellophane, celluloseacetate, Pliolite, ethyl cellulose, methylmethacrylate or the like,materials which are subject to cold flow and even more sensitive theretoat elevated temperatures, deformation of the plastic sheet may occursuch as cannot be compensated because ofthe rigid connection with thecarrying band to the extent that buckling and distortion of t-he'shieldoften results;

An object of this invention is to produce a protective device which isnot subject to the objectionable features of the type described.

Another object is to produce a protective device having a face-shieldmember which may be easily and quickly mounted in its assembled relationon the supporting band and which may be as quickly and easily removed.

A further object is to produce .a protective device of the typedescribed in which the face shield is not mountedin fixed relation ontothe supporting'band but such relative movement is per.- mitted as willcompensate for cold flow of the material and differences in expansion ofthe materials without buckling or distortion of the parts. r

.A still further object is to produce a protective device of the typedescribed in which the faceshield member can be quickly. and easilyinterchanged to permit widespread use of the more expensive head gearwith face shields of various types andsizes, which may be more easilystocked than the entire unit. Another object is to provide a protectivedevice of the type described in which the face-shield member isresiliently held in mounted relation but in which sufiicient relativemovement is per-' mitted between the face-shield member and its supportto nullify changes in dimension and to permit desirable adjustments withrespect thereto.

In order to economize onthe sup ly of protective devices stocked, it isadvisable to have a head-gear unit which may be readily ad usted in sizeto fit various shapes and sizes of heads of the prospective wearers.Provisions for increasing or decreasing the head size of the headgearare not uncommon but it has been found that changes in dimension oftencause modification of the angular relation of the head-gear members,which modification has been necessarily transmitted to the supportingband to the extent that either the head gear becomes uncomfortable tothe wearer or else the changed angular relationship of the supportingband causes buckling or distortion of the face shield.

It is therefore a still further object of this invention to produce adevice of the type described which automatically compensates fordiiierences in size and shape of the head of the wearer.

A further object is to produce .an improved protective device of thetype described which is formed of relatively few simple parts that areeasy to operate and adjust for, effecting the desired mounted orunmounted relation, and .in

which the face-shield portion may be easily interchanged one withanother to make best use of the device for particular operations.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention willhereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not oflimitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the ac:-companying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one formof a protective device embodying features of this invention. Fig. 2 isan enlarged side elevational View partially in section of the deviceshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Figure 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view correspondingto that of Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 4 showing a still furthermodification. Fig. .7 is a side elevational view of a protective deviceembodying a still further modification in the practice of thisinvention. Fig. 8 is a front elevational View of the protective deviceshown in Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 99 of Fig, '7. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line IDI0 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective viewof the face shield and band arrangement employed in the device shown inFig. '7. Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation ofthe device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a sectional elevational viewtaken substantially along the line I3I3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is asectional elevational View taken substantially along the line I4I4 ofFig. 13. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified form of face shieldwhich may be used in the practice of this invention. Fig. 16 is asectional view taken along the line I 6-I5 of Fig. 15.

Theface shield embodying features of this invention is indicated by thenumeral II]. It includes a head gear for positioning the device on thehead of the wearer. The head gear may consist of a head band II providedat its overlapping rearward end portions with slots I2, the overlappingends being slidable in a curvilinear sleeve I3. A bolt I4 and nut I5operate through an intermediate portion of the sleeve for clamping theoverlapping ends of the head band II in their adiusted relation. withinthe sleeve I3 whereby the head band may be dimensioned to correspond tothe particular head size of the wearer. A transverse head piece I 6 maybe secured at its ends to the head band II, as by a number of spacedrivets IT, for the purpose of providing contact over the cranium portionfor comfortably locating the head gear on the head of the wearer. A pairof inverted U-shaped connecting elements, which will hereinafter bedescribed in greater detail, are also secured to the head band I I bythe rivet members I 1.

The head gear may also have a protective shield portion 20 formed ofrelatively rigid material and having a depending flanged portion 2I awhich is adapted to mount a curvilinear faceshield supporting band ZIfixed thereto, as by rivets 2.2. It will be understood that the bandmember 2 I may he formed as a part of the flanged portion Zia. The band2I forms a relativey rigid curved support that is adapted tooverlie theforehead portion of the wearer when in position of use, that is, whenthe head band ofthe head gear is rocked to a lowered position ofadjustment. The supporting band 2I is also provided with a bracket 23 inthe form of a depending flanged member for carrying a spring-pressedball-and-socket joint 24 which permits the head band to be rockedbetween raised and lowered positions of adjustment.

The supporting band 2I is provided in its outer surface with alongitudinal recessed or grooved portion 25 which is adapted to receiveprojections in the form of buttons 21 formed in the upper edge portionof a face-shield member 28. The shield 28 is preferably formed oftransparent material which is somewhat flexible, such as from plasticsheet stock or wire screening, as will hereinafter be described. Thegroove or recess 25 and the buttons 2'! form interengaging parts whichare adapted to locate the face shield 28 in position of use on the outersurface of the support 2| but in such manner as wi l permit slid ingmovement of the buttons laterally within the grooveto compensate fordifferences in expansion between the material of which the face shieldis formedand the material of which the supporting band is formed. Suchslidable interconnection between the face shield and the band alsopermits lateral adjustment of the face shield relative to the head gearfor various purposes and to meet various circumstances which may arisein use.

As previously described, the bracket 23 is formed of an extension of theband 2! and another piece of relatively rigid sheet stock 23a. The twoare fixed together in juxtaposed relation by flanges 231) which areturned in from the edge portions of the added piece to engage theopposite wells of the extension from the band 2 i, as illustrated inFig. 3. A central portion of the juxtaposed members are spread apart, asshown at39, to form an internal cavity 3| which opens forwardly througha' reduced opening 32. A spring 33 is located within the cavity 3!. Theforward end of the spring bears against forward end of the cavity havingthe reduced opening 32 while the other end of the spring bears against awasher 34 which seats on the end of a band or wire 35 which extendsoutwardly through the reduced opening 32. The band 35 overlies and isadapted operatively to engage the outer surface of the upper edgeportion of the face shield 28. The opposite end of the band 35 may besimilarly anchored within another cavity SI formed on the oppositeportion of the supporting band 2!. In this manner, the band or wire 35is constantly stretched in the endwise direction and establishesresilient engagement with the outer wall of the band 2I or face shieldmember 28, when in position of use, and whereby the face shield may beheld in place on the curved supporting band 2 I. Described morespecifically, the wire 35 and spring members 33 provide a resilientmember which constantly urges the face shield against the supportingband thereby to maintain resilient inter-engagement between the partswhen the buttons of the face shield are positioned within the recess ofthe supporting band. Such resilient engagement permits relativeside-wise movement between the parts to prevent buckling or distortionof the face shield, as would otherwise be eifected because of expansionsor cold flow in prior systems.

For the purpose of adjusting the band 35 into and out of the groovedportions described, a. clip member 36- is provided which is slidablethereon and has a finger-gripping portion to facilitate operationthereof.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 the face shield isdesignated by the numeral and each of the projections operating withinthe longitudinal recess 23 of the curved supporting band 2| is in theform of a longitudinal projection M formed integrally in the uppermargin "of the shield. Such projection may be in the form of acontinuous projection, as shown, or it may constitute a number oflaterally spaced apart projections adapted to operate within the recess26, when in the assembled relation. When in the form of a continuousprojection that seats within 1 the recess, the wire 35, forming theflexible band,

is adapted to fit within the projection i! to urge the shield 40 inclamping relation in place on the curved supporting band 5| whilepermitting relative lateral movement between the support and j theshield.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that ofFigure 5 except that the assembly includes a curvilinear strip 35 havinga projection it which corresponds to and is received within theprojection M of the face shield.

Substantially the same results are obtained by this arrangement exceptthat the wire or band 34 is received in the recess formed by theprojections to press the strip 45 against the face shield 40 which, inturn, presses the projections M of the face shield into operativeengagement with the A recess 26 of the supporting band. Each of theelements described in this modification are able to move endwiserelative to each other.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures '7 to 11 inclusive,the curved supporting band 21 is provided with a guiding ridge 5i! andcarries a plurality of pins 5!, such as the three shown in laterallyspaced apart relation. The curved supporting band 2! is provided with apair of horizontally disposed keyhole slots 52 near its ends. The shieldmember is here designated by the numeral 53. The upper edge portion ofthe shield 53, which is adapted to engage the outer surface of thecurved supporting band 2|, is provided with keyhole slots thatcorrespond generally with the keyhole slots 52 in the band 2!; a pair ofelongate slots 55 through which the pins 5! disposed on each side of thecenter pin are adapted to end when in the assembled relation, and anopening 55 through which the center pin 5| extends in substantiallyfitting relation. The band for holding the shield 1 in place on thecurved support, which is desigboss 82 while the other end is fixed to alink 54 that extends outwardly through the suitable opening in the boss.The forward end of the link 64 is provided with a flange which forms afinger grip 55 for adjusting the link endwise against the tension of thespring 53, and it is also provided with a headed pin 66 that is adaptedto extend through the registered keyhole slots 58, 55 and 52 formed inthe band, the shield and the curved supporting band respectively. Whenthe pin E55 is engaged in the keyhole slots, as illustrated in Figure 9,the band 5'! constantly urges and resiliently clamps the shield 53 inplace on the curved support. Although the parts described are incapableof relative movement because of the fixed relation established at theircenter by the center pin 5!, relative endwise adjustment of theassociated parts to compensate for cold flow or for diiferences inthermal expansion is permitted since the other pins 5i extend throughslotted portions 55 and 59. The extent of adjustment between the partsis necessarily limited by engagement of the pin with the ends of theslots; however, these are designed to permit the movement necessaryunder the expansion and cold flow which takes place Without causingbuckling or distortion of the parts. To remove the shield from thecurved support, the headed pin 56 is removed from the keyhole slotswhereby the force of the spring constantly urging the parts intoengagement is relieved. The band 51 may then be removed and the shieldlifted oif of the pins 5i.

Instead of forming the face shield of a plastic member having a recessor offset portions in the upper end for establishing sliding engagementwith the recess across the positioning band 2|, the face shield may bein the form of a metal screen I!) or the like, such as illustrated inFigure 15. In such modification, the upper edge portion of the screen itis fixed, as by rivets H, to a resilient band 72 of relatively rigidmaterial having a recess or projection '53 of the type heretoforedescribed for establishing operative sliding engagement with the recess25 provided in the supporting headband 2 l. Instead of a screen member,which is particularly well adapted for use as a spark shield, othermetallic, plastic, or fabric sheets may be used in various sizes. Suchmodified shield members need not be transparent throughout their entirearea as opaque shields may be formed with glass, plastic or screenlikewindows in the shield member at eye level for vision therethr-ough.

Figures 12 to 14 inclusive are detail views showing the connectionbetween the head gear and the supporting band 82 which provides forautomatic adjustment for retaining proper angular relation ofthe partsnotwithstanding adjustment of the head gear or modification of itsangular position as occasioned by fitting the head gear to the contourof the head portion of the person upon which the gear, sits when inposition :of use.

As shown, the connector is in the form of an inverted U-shaped strip oneend of which is fixed, as by laterally spaced rivets 8|, to theadjustable head band 82 which encircles the head and the curvilinearupwardly extending band portion 83 which passes over the cranium of thewearer. The free end portion 84 of the connector strip 85 is laterallyoifset and is secured, as

. the elements 2| and 23 heretofore described. The

inner strip 89 is secured in position by downturned end portions 90 ofthe outer strip 83. The inner strip 89 forms a part of the supportingband 2 l heretofore described.

Thus, when the head gear is adjusted for size and tilted to correspondbetter to the curvature of the head of the wearer, relative tilting andturning movement is permitted between the supporting band and the headgear so that the desired angular relation of the supporting band and theface shield may be retained and buckling of the face shield therebyprevented.

In this manner, the protective device can be easily and quickly adaptedfor use by persons .having widely differing head sizes and shapeswithout the device becoming uncomfortable and without placing suchstrain upon the parts as will distort or buckle the face shield or makethe unit unfit for the purpose for which it was face shield member isformed with the receiving recess or recesses to establish the desiredoperative engagement.

It will be further understood that numerous changes may be made in thedetails of construction, arrangement and operation without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. in a face shield, a-relatively rigid curved support adapted tooverlie the forehead of the wearer, a relatively flexible shield havingits upper margin engaging the outer surface of the curved support andadapted to overlie the face of the wearer, interengaging parts on thesupport and shield for locating the shield in place on the support butallowing relative longitudinal movement of the support and shield, aband engaging the outer surface of the upper margin of the shield,spring means carried by the support adjacent the ends of the band, andmeans for detachably securing the spring means to the band forresiliently clamping the shield in place on the support.

2. In a protective device, 'a curved support adapted to overlie theforehead of the wearer, a face shield adapted to overlie the face andhaving an upper edge portion positioned adjacent the support when inposition of use, a band adapted to overlie the upper edge portion of theface shield in position of use, means on the support operativelyengaging the overlying portions of the face shield and band for locatingthe parts in their assembled relation while permitting relative lateralmovement therebetween, and resilient means detachably secured to theband for urging same in the direction to clamp the face shield inposition of use on the support.

3. In a protective device of the type described, 0

a curved support adapted to overlie the forehead of the wearer, a faceshield having its upper margin engaging the outer surface of the curvedsupport and adapted to overlie the face of the wearer in position ofuse, a band lying adjacent the upper margin of the face shield inposition of use, interengaging pins and slots in the overlying portionsof the support, face shield and band for locating the parts in theirassembled relation while permitting relative movement therebetween inthe longitudinal direction, and resilient means on the support fordetachably engaging the end ortion of the band for clamping th faceshield in place on the support.

4. In a protective device of the type described, a curved supportadapted to overlie the forehead of the wearer, a face shield having itsupper margin engaging the outer surface of the curved support andadapted to overlie the face of the wearer when in position of use, aband lying adjacent the upper margin of the face shield when in positionof use, interengaging pins and slots in the support, face shield andband for locating the parts in their assembled relation in a manner topermit relative movement therebetween in the longitudinal direction,spring means carried by the support adjacent the ends of the band, andmeans for detachably engaging the spring means with overlying portionsof the band, face shield and support for resiliently clamping the partsin position of use.

5; A protective device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the interengagingpins and slots comprise pins extending outwardly from laterally spacedapart portions of the support and corresponding openings in the uppermargin of the face shield and band through which the pins extend when inposition of use.

6. A protective device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the interengagingpins and slots comprise laterally spaced apart pins extending outwardlyfrom intermediate portions of the support, registered openings in theupper margin of the face shield and band for receiving a correspondingpin and support, and longitudinally disposed slots in other portions ofthe face shield margin and band for operative engagement with other pinsin a manner to permit relative longitudinal movement between parts.

'7. A protective device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means fordetachably engaging the spring means with the support, band and faceshield comprises key slots in each of the end portions of the support,face shield margin and band which lie substantially in registry when theparts are in their assembled relation, and a pin operatively connectedto each of the said spring means for insertion through the registeredkey slots in effecting the assembled relation.

ROBERT MALCOM, J R.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,246,442 Jackson June 17, 1941 2,360,482 Evans Oct. 17, 1944

